pacu mum, i'm surprised that you would think adding more volume (a sump) would be inefective, i would have thought that is the whole point buy a bigger tank, more surface area and volume, higher nitrate dilution..........wrong?? For instance if i was to have a spare 4' tank lying around (which it so happens i do) then what ever the volume of my sump set up is would directly corolate to the amount my water be diluted of nitrate,Yes???
high nitrates HELP
- Thread starter love4thegt
- Start date
Ya but you aren't talking the amount of dilution you need. I think she's saying a big upgrade on the tank to be able to keep nitrates down. Personally I'd look into a big drip system, or setup another sump with the idea of making it a nitrate reducer via tons of plants in it.
I stand corrected. Yes, a large sump would help dilute the nitrate, but not reduce the amount of nitrate being generated. However, if you turn your 40 gallon tank into a wet/dry filter, your increase in water volume will only by about 15 gallons at the most. Were you planning on using submersible media? Larger, more frequent water changes, or a drip system as bassguy suggested would take care of your nitrates.
BTW, congratulations on your twins!
maybe try adding one of the modular style fluidized bed filters to your system. http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=XolXTsi_CIKbtwfbzOiKDA&ved=0CCsQ8wIwAA
pretty cost effective and easy to add to existing in line system
pretty cost effective and easy to add to existing in line system
I would either get a larger tank, which would not be a bad thing. Or install a drip system which wouldnt be a bad thing either. I was in the same boat as you, high nitrates and I did not want to get rid of my fish so I got a larger tank, nitrate problems are a thing of the past, just make sure when you go larger, go at least 2x as large as the tank you currently have. Then add the drip system lol.
i"ve decided i would get a 1000litre tank, will be huge and can"t wait not sure how i"m going to go with aquascaping (that word is such a douche word lol) but will put on here when it is done, i get my tank later next week, drilled and ready to go, will just build a sump using a standard 6' tank that i have sitting around, should have a total volume of around 1250litres should be enough haha
